Slider



Oct. 26, 1965 s. AUSNlT ETAL SLIDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 17, 1962 W9 m N/# N. 2 4. 4 WM I a I i r f em M W M 5 9m M 4 W 1 Mme 0e W0 w Oct. 26, 1965 s. AUSNlT ETAL SLIDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1962 f 9 WI? 6 47/ a 0770 xga 4 6403 ATTOR EYS United States Patent O 3,213,505 SLIDER Steven Ausnit, 124 E. 61st St., New York, N.Y., and Otto Karl Kraus, 65-65 Wetherole St., Rego Park, N.Y. Filed Sept. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 224,011 2 Claims. (CL 24201) The present invention relates to improvements in flexible closures wherein a pair of flexible closure strips are pressed together to be locked, and drawn apart to be separated, and particularly to an improved slider for locking and unlocking the strips.

The .invention particularly contemplates use with flexible closure strips having an interlocking arrow-shaped rib element on one of the strips with a coactingly shaped groove element on the other strip. A slider is adapted for moving along the strips in a closing direction to force the strips together and cause them to interlock, or in an opening direction to separate the strips. The slider generally has planar top and bottom portions for sliding above and below the stri s with inturned flanges at the lateral edges which taper inwardly toward a closing edge of the slider for engaging outwardly facing surfaces on the strips and pressing them together to interlock. The top and bottom portions are supported by a bridging separator portion extending between the top and bottom portions at an opening end of the slider to pass between the strips and separate the rib and groove elements.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a guiding or orienting recess in the separator portion which slidingly receives the rib element and holds and guides it in proper'orientation with respect to the slider as the slider is moved.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a form of slider wherein the top and bottom portions at one side are elongated and bend one strip laterally outwardly while permitting the other strip to extend in a substantially linear direction.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an integral axially extending cantilever mounted separating finger which projects substantially one third to one half the length of the slider between the sides of the groove element to spread the groove for locking or unlocking the rib element therein.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved slider which can inexpensively and easily be manufactured of one piece and shaped to provide the above features.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved slider which has improved operation in separating the rib and groove elements when moved in an opening direction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved slider which moves easily along the closure strips, which is effective in operation and permits broad manufacturing tolerances, and which generally provides improvements over sliders heretofore available.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved slider which embodies an improved form of separating element that spreads the groove as the slider is being moved either in an opening or a closing direction.

Other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent with the teaching of the principles of the invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiments thereof in the specification, claims and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective View in section of a pair of closure strips of a type for which the slider of the present invention is well suited;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a form of slider structure;

3,213,505 Patented 0st, 26, 1965 FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the slider structure showing its action on the closure strips of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View with parts broken away illustrating a slider on a pair of closure strips and embodying one of the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 isa top plan view of another form of slider illustrating its action on closure strips;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another form of slider embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along VII-VII of FIGURE 6 illustrating the action of separating the sides of the groove;

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line VIII-VIII of FIGURE 6, and including the fastener strips;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the slider of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view showing the slider of FIG- URE 6 at a stage of manufacture; and

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view showing another form of slider.

As shown on the drawings:

FIGURE 1 illustrates first and second closure strips 10 and 11. At the edge of the closure strip is a rib element 12 in the shape of an arrow. At the edge of the closure strip 11 is a groove element 13 having a coactingly shaped groove 14 for receiving the arrow-shaped rib 12.

The closure strips are formed of a resilient plastic material and for joining the strips they are interlocked by the rib element 12 by being pressed into the groove 14. For being unlocked or separated the rib element is Withdrawn from the groove by being pulled therefrom. In accordance with the present invention, improved features of a slider movable along the strips, permit accurately positioning the rib relative to the groove and spreading overhanging sides 15 and 16 of the groove when the rib 12 is either moved into the groove for interlocking the strips, or moved out of the groove for separating the strips.

Material well suited for the strips includes thermoplastic and thermosetting organic synthetic resins, and the strips are commonly transparent or translucent colorless plastic or can be of an opaque colored plastic. Of particular importance for this use are the vinyl type resins such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride-polyvinyl acetate copolymers, and similar vinyl resins, and polyethylene. Rubber, either natural or synthetic, is not a preferred material since, in the case of rubber, it is more difficult to control the degree of rigidity for interlocking engagement between the strips. However, by proper compounding and vulcanizing the rubber, the degree of rigidity can be controlled to make rubber acceptable for purposes of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a slider 17 which is preferably formed of sheet metal and stamped, although other materials and manufacturing operations may be employed. The slider has a planar top portion 18 and a planar bottom portion 19. The side edges 18a and 18b of the top portion are bent downwardly and the side edges 19a and 19b of the bottom portion are bent upwardly so as to form inwardly facing surfaces for engaging surfaces on the strips as the slider is moved therealong. This is illustrated for example in FIGURE 3 and the edges of the top portion 18 and bottom portion 19 are tapered toward each other at a closing end C of the slider for pressing the strips together to join the rib and groove elements 12 and 13.

At an opening end 0 of the slider a bridging separator portion 20 is located and is integral with the top and bottom portions 18 and 19, the slider being formed of one piece of metal. The sides of the separator portion engage the edges of the strips and pull the rib element 3 12 out of the groove element 13 when the slider is moved in an opening direction as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The bridging separator portion 211 rigidly joins the top portion 18 and bottom portion 19 and provides a cantilever support for these portions holding them in parallel spaced relationship. A manually grippable tab or handle may be attached to the slider if desired for sliding it along the strips.

In accordance with one form of the invention, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the bridging separator portion 29 is provided with means for orienting or guiding the vertical position of the rib element 12. This is provided by an arcuate concave notch 21 in the separator portion 20.

As will be observed, the groove element 13 necessarily has a head in which the groove 14 is formed, which is of larger vertical dimension than the rib element 12. Thus there must be space above and below the rib element in the slider. To guide and orient the rib element 12 and maintain it in its centered position with respect to the groove element, the recess 21 is shaped to fit the edge thereof. This aids in holding the rib element in its correct position for both separating and joining the strips and 11. The notch 21 also aids in maintaining the slider 17 in its correct position and makes movement of the slider easier as it lessens the angle at which the rib enters the slider to join the groove 13. The rib 12 is also held more rigidly and prevented from tipping so that it enters the groove 14 in a straight position to insure that the sides of the rib element 12 will interlock behind the sides of the groove 14.

FIGURE 5 illustrates another form of slider 22 having a planar top portion 23 and a similar bottom portion, not shown, with the top and bottom portions interconnected by a bridging portion 24. The top portion is constructed to have its sides turned downwardly in flanges 23a and 23b which are of the same general construction as the slider of FIGURES 2 and 4. Similarly the planar bottom portion will have its side edges turned upwardly to form flanges. These flanges and the top and bottom portions provide tracks 25 and 26 extending through the slider. The first track 25 handles the groove element 13 and extends substantially linearly with respect to the body of the slider 22.

The second track 26 has a first portion 26a which extends substantially linearly and is parallel with the first track 25. A second track portion 26b turns at a lateral angle with respect to the track 25 and channels or directs the rib element 12 away from the groove element 13 at an angle thereto. The track portion 26 in effect provides a small tubular section which projects beyond the end of the other side of the slider for guiding the arrowhead shaped rib element 12. This permits the somewhat heavier groove element to remain linear, and bends or contorts the rib element 12 removing it from the groove 14. Thus one side of the top portion 23, and similarly one side of the bottom portion are longer than the other side.

FIGURES 6 through 10 illustrate a form of slider 27 with a top planar portion 28 and a bottom planar portion 29. The slider 27 is formed of a single piece of sheet metal, as will be explained in connection with FIGURE 10. The sides of the top portion 28 are turned downwardly in flanges 28a and 28b. The sides of the bottom planar portion 29 are turned upwardly in flanges 29a and 29b. The edges of planar portions 28 and 29 with their flanged sides taper inwardly toward a closing end C for engaging surfaces on the strips 10 and 11 and forcing the rib element 12 into interlocking engagement with the groove element 13.

At an opening end 0 of the slider a bridging separating portion 30 is located being integral with the portions 28 and 29 and supporting them in rigidly spaced relationship. The bridging portion 311 aids in separating the strips when the slider 27 is moved in an opening direc- 4; tion. The bridging portion 311, as in each of the structures of FIGURES 2 and 4, has inner and outer surfaces which are curved in an axially extending plane and form continuations of the upper and lower portions of the slider.

Mounted at one end in cantilever fashion, and integral with the separating portion 30, is a spreader finger 31. The spreader finger is supported at its base 32 on the separator portion 30 and is integral therewith being positioned by being bent to extend in an axial direction between the planar portions 28 and 29.

The spreader finger 31 is spear shaped having upper and lower sides 33 and 34 which taper apart for forcing apart the sides 15 and 16 of the groove element. The finger is also curved in a vertical plane (in the position shown in FIGURE 6) presenting a convex outer surface. The separator finger 31 extends axially substantially one third to one half of the length of the slider, as illustrated in FIGURE 9.

As the slider is moved in an opening direction, the direction being indicated in FIGURE 9, the separating finger 31 pries apart the sides of the groove element 13 so that the rib element 12 easily moves out from between the sides of the groove element 13, as illustrated in FIG- URE. 8. Similarly, when the slider is moved in a closing direction, the separating finger 31 separates the sides of the groove element so that the rib element can easily be moved between the sides 15 and 16.

The separating finger 31 is arranged so that its upper and lower edges 33 and 34 separate the sides 15 and 16 with a minimum of friction drag and with a minimum of binding so that a smooth sliding movement of the slider is possible. Further, the finger 31 is mounted on the separator portion 30 and does not interfere with the normal shape or normal function of the top and bottom planar portions 28 and 29 and their flanges. In other words, the basic highly functional shape shown in FIG- URE 2 may be employed and its operation enhanced without introducing disadvantageous features of shape modification.

It will be understood that the notch 21 of FIGURE 5 and the separator-spreader finger 31 of FIGURE 6 may be combined to create a slider to obtain the advantages of each and the resultant slider will work in many environments more satisfactory than either arrangement by itself.

As illustrated in FIGURE 10, the unit is simply and conveniently made of a single sheet of material and can be stamped of a fiat section of sheet metal with the finger 31 projecting laterally outward-1y in the area be tween the planar portions 28 and 29. The slider can be cut in the pattern shown in FIGURE 10, and completed by folding the planar portions in the side flanges to the shape shown, and the finger 31 can be bent about its base 32 to the position and shape shown in FIGURE 6.

As shown in FIGURE 11, a slider 27 has the combined structures of FIGURES 4 and 6 with a top planar portion 28 and a bottom planar portion 29. The planar portions are joined by a bridging separating portion 30" which is provided with an integral spreader finger 31. The bridg ing ortion 30' is also provided with a recess 21' shaped to fit the projecting rib element of the strip which slides therein.

Thus it will be seen that we have provided an improved slider for separating interlocking elements of flexible closure strips, which meets the objectives, advantages and features above set forth. The structure provides an effective efficient slider which moves readily without binding along closure strips and which effectively joins or separates the strips without creating tears and wear in the strip.

The drawings and specification present a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed, but covers all modifier tions, changes and alternative constructions and methods falling within the scope of the principles taught by the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A slider for flexible closure strips having an interlocking rib element and a receiving groove element comprising,

planar top and bottom portions for sliding above and below the strips,

inturned flanges at the lateral edges of each of said top 'and bottom portions for slidingly engaging outwardly facing surfaces on the strips,

said inturned flanges on each of the respective portions tapering toward each other from an opening to a closing end of the slider, and a bridging separator portion extending between said top and bottom portions at said opening end of the slider to separate the rib and groove elements,

said slider formed of one piece of material of substantially uniform thickness, and said separator portion also being of uniform thickness with surfaces thereof facing parallel to the slider with edges thereof facing laterally and having a recess defined in one edge shaped in position to receive the projecting rib element of the strips.

2. A slider for flexible closure strips having interlocking rib and groove elements comprising,

top and bottom portions for slid-ing above and below the strips,

flanges at the edges of said top and bottom portions for slidingly engaging outwardly facing surfaces on the strips,

said flanges on each of the respective portions tapering toward each other from an opening to a closing end of the slider, a bridging separator portion extending between said top and bottom portions at said opening end of the slider to support the top and bottom portions and separate the rib and groove elements, and a spreader finger portion projecting axially rearwardly between the top and bottom portions and adapted to project into the groove element for spreading the groove and for interlocking or unlocking the strips,

said finger portion having upper and lower edges tapering outwardly toward the opening end of the slider, said separator portion being of uniform thickness throughout and of the same thickness as said top and bottom portions and being integral extensions thereof, said finger portion being of the same thickness as said separator portion and being of one piece therewith bent rearwardly therefrom and having a lateral concave surface facing the rib element so that the rib element slides therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,785,920 12/30 Sundback 24-20515 2,606,351 8/52 Wende 2420 1.3 2,764,793 10/56 Sander 24201.3

FOREIGN PATENTS 874,993 9/ 42 France. 1,018,167 12/52 France. 1,034,230 7/53 France.

535,333 10/31 Germany.

685,008 12/52 Great Britain.

113,306 2/ 45 Switzerland.

315,110 9/56 Switzerland.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SLIDER FOR FLEXIBLE CLOSURE STRIPS HAVING AN INTERLOCKING RIB ELEMENT AND A RECEIVING GROOVE ELEMENT COMPRISING, PLANAR TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS FOR SLIDING ABOVE AND BELOW THE STRIPS, INTURNED FLANGES AT THE LATERAL EDGES OF EACH OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS FOR SLIDINGLY ENGAGING OUTWARDLY FACING SURFACES ON THE STRIPS, SAID INTURNED FLANGES ON EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE PORTIONS TAPERING TOWARD EACH OTHER FROM AN OPENING TO A CLOSING END OF THE SLIDER, AND A BRIDGING SEPARATOR PORTION EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS AT SAID OPENING END OF THE SLIDER TO SEPARATE THE RIB AND GROOVE ELEMENTS, SAID SLIDER FORMED OF ONE PIECE OF MATERIAL OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS, AND SAID SEPARATOR PORTION ALSO BEING OF UNIFORM THICKNESS WITH SURFACES THEREOF FACING PARALLEL TO THE SLIDER WITH EDGES THEREOF FACING LATERALLY AND HAVING A RECESS DEFINED IN ONE EDGE SHAPED IN POSITION TO RECEIVE THE PROJECTING RIB ELEMENT OF THE STRIPS. 